Coil-heating furnace.



W. iB. PEIRCE.

COIL HEATING URNACE.

I A u APPLICATION FILED JUNE 23,` IHN. I 1,243,443. f f 4Patented0m16,1917.

w. B. PEIRCE.

. COIL HEATING FURNACL I APPLICATION FILED )UNE 23 X914.

s sains-surgi a.-

' helix which is formed therefrom.

eter of the turns, through an oblique opening into the furnace, and thisopeningneed not be of much greater diameter than the thickness of thematerial. 4

My above described method for progres- Vsiyely heating coiled materialmay be used for vanyV desired purpose but it is particularly applicableto the-heating of iron until it is soft enough for forging operations.In such case, it saves the necessity of straightening 'and cutting thecoiled material into lengths,.heating it in long furnaces 'andtransferring it by hand to the automatic forging machine or otherapparatus in which itis to be used. i

The specific means forhtransferring the exterior coiled material intothe furnace and lfor giving the successive turns the desired helicalform is shown herein as yconsisting of an exterior rotor carrying anoblique opening through which the coiled material in helical form passesinto the furnace, the rotary path of said opening being in oper- 'ativerelation to an external support for thc supply coil and an internal.support for the The longitudinal support within the furnace ispreferably non-rotating and preferably comprises a conical mandrelportion of approxi-- mately the diameter of the helix to be formed andupon which the feed rotor lays, the material tombe-heated in helicalrelation, and a more or less horizontal extension of much smallerdiameter along which the successive turns of the helix progress inproperly spaced relation while exposed on all sides to the heat of thefurnace.

The fully heated material is shown as being withdrawn endwisc from theremote end of-the helix. 'Other specifically different arrangements foraccomplishing the.for mation, support, axial trave-l and unwin-ding ofthe helix are 'shown in my copending application, Serial No. 659,467,filed November 10th, 1911. The broader features of the method hereindisclosed are broadly claimed in my cri-pending application, Serial No;

4 74,330, filed January 26th, 1916.

My present apparatus and its generically similar but specificallydifferent method of operation will be more fully understood from thefollowing detailed description in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which- Figure 1. is a side View, partly in section on theline .fc-,y, Fig. 2, showing a furnace and fcedmechanism cniliodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the parts shown inFig. 1; 'Y

Figs. 3, l, 5, (i, and 7, are detail views of f portionsY thereof.

In the drawings, similar reference letters denote corresponding parts 1uthe several figures.

The means'for forming and supporting` the desired helix of the materialto be heated within the furnace is preferably movably mounted withvrespect to the furnace upon a track 3. To this end, I provide a truck 4,mounted on wheels 5 carrying a ,massive standard In'the latter isrigidly secured a forwardly extending hollow support 7 carrying t'hedisk 8 upon which is mounted a conical mandrel 9 having an internalpassage or chamber 10 continuously supplied with cooling water throughhorizontal pipes l1, 19. extending through the hollow support 7 and.connecting with the interior of said mandrelthrough radial pipes 13,1-1.

Extending forward from the uppermost portion of the annular mandrel 9 isa hanger 15 in suitable relation for receiving the successive helicalturns of the material and for holding them freely suspended and exposedto the heat on all sides. As will be evident from Figs. 1, 3 and 4, thehanger comprises a U-shaped pipe in communication with the interior 10of the mandrel 9, for free circubrick adapted to protect the supportingdisk 8 and water pipes 13, 14 from the heat within the furnace and atthe same time to furnish reverbcratory heating surface for the interiorof the furnace.

Upon the support 7 is journalcd the hollow shaft 1G, for which Ipreferably provide roller bearings at the forward end 17. This shaft isadapted to be power-driven through gears 18, 19, 2O and 21, thelatterbeing` mounted upon power shaftl 22 carrying fast and loose pulleys 23,24, which may be operated by a. shiftable belt or other source of powernot shown.

The shaft 1G carries the rotary disk 25 which is formed or provided witha circular peripheral bearing resting upon the antifriction rollers 29,which may be mounted either on truck 4 or on the foundation adacentthereto. g

As will be evident, the above described construction affords an ampleinterdependent support for the non-rotating mandrel `structure abovedescribed as Well as for the rotary member itself.

The rotor 25 has secured thereto by clamps Q7, 27, an annular ring offire brick26 exheated frases durin .the o )eration of the P* e titidevice. bviously, the major portion of the closure consists of the.stationary mandrel and tire-brickcarried thereby, while the rottnyannnlus Q6 supl'ilies a closure for' the annular spare 28 around themandrel.

'lhe coiled material 3Q.' 34, to be fed into the furnace is supportedupon the rotor in any desired way as hy shaft 30 carrying,r a spool ordrum 31, which rotated hy winding of the material onto the mandrel.

An oblique opening tor passage of the material to the mandrel within thefurnace is -lirovided hy substitut ing a suitable shaped metal lilocli'33 or fill in plaee ot two ofthe. hriels 26. The hloelis are shown indetail in Figs. o and 7 in two forms. one adapted t'or right hand andthe other for left hand revolution as indicated h v the arrows in thosefigures.

'lhc feeder block is furnished with a langre I-,t-t wherehy it may hehclted in position and it may he made Nhollow and water cooled itdesired.

(.lpposite the uppermost, portion ot the .mandrel yis arranged aeorresluuulingfly shaped eoipcratinov clamping hloek which madchollowand supplied with water throuLll-h the supports il?, li'. which areseclned to the lever 2S, piroted at 39, and `I'urnislu'a'l with aweight, 42. and operated hy a handle. 40. pivoted at 4.1, and suppliedwith a balancing weight. 43.

The lfurnace is shown as supplied witlran opening, 5ft, for thewitlulrawal oI the ma terial a Fter heating.

'This o[')eni1u f, :'14, is `t'urnisl'icd with a door, .72%, Isupportedhy a, link, 52. from the arms, 5l, al, secured upon the shalt, 50,mounted iu hearings upon the 'Furnace l'ralne, and also furnished withweights 5S, 5R, carriad upon the arms. 57, 5'?, to halanr'e the door.,all.

"lhis door is raised and lowered hy means otthe lel'cr. 55, and handle,5G.

'Ihe (n'wration ol my derive is as follows:

A, coil olE n'laterial haring heen placed upon the support., 210, an endthereof is passed through the slot., 5in or 2S", ol' one of the,Fprwlars :123 or fll, secured upon the liste 25.

rl`he cud oF the material is now passed ath the clamp, 3G, which islowered to it against the conical t'aee oi' the.

.i un, t).

carrying the disk, 25, and feeder, 88, is now revolved away from theclam 36, and` `by its revolution, the feeder trave s around the annularentrance, 28, and slides along the coiled material, which, rotating,1rupon its support,30, is fed through the inclined slot, 35. or 35, of thefeeder, on to the conical surface oflt). and the successive coils ofmaterial thus laid upon the conical surface of t), push each otherdownward upon this surd faee`and into the furnace chamber Where theyhaarr upon the hanger, 15, and are heated.

The v are readily drawn out of the furnace through the opening,54,-slipping suceessively otl from thehanger, l5.

Successful operation of the apparatus in' the manner ahove describeddepends upon several cooperating` factors of which the fol lowing;r mayhe noted: f

The angle and length of the obli ue opertf iugthrough the rotating,-feeder )lock 33 and its relative position with res eet to the pitch olthe mandrel upon whici it winds the material, aswell as the shape anddegree ot' pressure of the clamp lt are all designed with reference tothe stiffness `and natural curvature or set of the coiled material so asto impart the required helical shape or set to the material depositedupon thc mandrel. The mandrel itself is formed with a decreasing pitchso that as the sueeessivc turns ot the helix are relieved of the pressertoot, they pass otl' 'of the. mandrel and on to the hanger in an orderlymanner.

The hanger has for a considerable portion ot its length an inclinationcorresponding to the downward inclination of the. uppermost part. ol themandrel thusassisting,r a forward slidingl movement ol" they turns ot'the 105 helix under the iu-luenee ol' gravity; As the turns slide downthe hanger and heroine morey or less softened, their points ol' coutaetwith the hanger are shifted more or less so that the heating issubstantially uni- Form. The tree. end ofthe hanger is 'curved upwardlyso as to furnish a. stop 'against'. the natural sliding of the coilshygravity therehy retaining. them until positively withdrawn through theexit opening 5ft. \\itl|dra\\'a.l should he suhstantially eontiuuous sothat a tull)1 heated toil will not. he permitted to remain long enoughto have a. succeedingr eoil come into eontaelfwith it` after heingsol'teued lo the welding' point..

The. successive positions of the eoils ot the` helix are indicated withmore or less accuracy at. 32, 32" 3Q, ete.,hut` itivilI he, understoodthat. thc presser tooty and mandrel prevent decrease. of periphery ofp)e 125 turns ol the, coils :`Ll"te1"lhey are once .tid down, and if thesuccessive turns on the mandrel sometimes appear to he ol" dill'erentdiameters, it is because. ol" slight variations in operation of thefeeding' nuelumisni. 130

Such i] cific method disclosed in my saidcopending entrance being formedinteriorly by a cirapplication No. 74330, they have certain broadfeatures in common, and various of the broader claims of said aplication 74,330 are broad enough to cover t e method disclosed in thisapplication. V

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is A Y 1. Afurnace having an annular entrance for ingress of .the material to beheated, and

havinga revolubly mounted feeder adjacentV thereto.

2. A furnace having an annular entrance for ingress of the material tobe heated, in combination with a revolubly mounted feeder arranged topass before successive portions of said annular entrance in itsrevolution.

3. A furnace having an annular entrance for ingress of the material tobe heated, in combination with a revolubly mounted feeder `vadapted topass in its revolution before said entrance with means for moving saidfeeder in a. circular path.

4. Afffurnace having an annular entrance for iugresspf the material tobe heated, in

cou'ibination with a revolubly mounted feeding member whereby materialis fed through for ingress of the material to be heated, a.

support within the furnace for supporting the material in the directionof the axis of said entrance, and a passage for removal of the materialfrom the furnace placed substantiallyin the vertical plane of said axis,whereby the material ma be introduced and heated while supporte incoiled form,

and withdrawn nearly straight from said furnace.

11. A furnace having a circular entrance, with a circular member of lessdiamter partially closing it and leaving an annular opening, said memberbeing su ported so as to `be 4movable laxially of sai entrance, with arotating feeder supported thereon and with means for rotatin saidfeeder, all

mounted so as to be mova le axially of saidv entrance. t

12. A`furnace having an interior coil sup- 95 porting member, and thewall of the furnace having a. feed aperture therethrough-through whichthe material may be fed to said coil supporting member, and saidaperture leading oblique/1y into thezfurnaee 1n a sition and directioncorre endingl a proxunately to theperiphery of t e coils to supported bysaid interior supporting member. 13. A furnace provided withsuitableentrance andv exit openings for thematerial successive portionsof the annular entrance. 1 to be heated, in combination with 'a feed 5.A furnace having an annular entrance for ingress of the material to beheated, in combination with a revolubly mounted feeding 'member adjacentto said entrance, with means for moving said feeder in a circular path.

6. A furnace having an annular entrance fo'r ingress-of the material tobe heated, said entrance being furnished with a sloping surface ofsubstantially the form of a conical frustum, and having a revolublymounted feeding member ad]acent to said entrance whereby it is adaptedto deliver the material upon .or around said surface.

7. A-furnace having an annular entrance for ingress of the material tobe heated, said entrance being formed iuteriorly by acireular memberfurnished with an exterior` central support.

8. A furnace for ingress of the material to be heated, said cular memberfurnished with an exterior having an annular entrance 4 mechanismadapted and arranged with respect to the entrance opening so as to feedinto the furnace and set in a suitable curvature so as to cause saidmaterial to progressively form an axially advancing coil or helix withinthe furnace between the entrance and exit openings thereof.

14. A furnace,'a horizontal coil supportling member within said furnace,said coil' material initially shaped alsv 55 supporti.

entrance, and projecliiig in lliu dii'ei'lioii ol" ilu` axis of saidonli-:iure and an exilv loi' 1hr ii illidrawal oil' llie iiiali-iial iiillie oppol 5 liu iiili'odureil. healed while hupported iii mil 1g,ingr.f a iaipporl upon ilu exterior oll said iloaiii'e :loi' supportinginalerial iu roil 'l'oi'iin a saililioi't upon llie inner Airfare oltlaaiil.

nienlioiieil Aauppnrl through an annular iiiiranee opening hel wenn theperiphery of :said wlohui'e :inil the edge ol` Said opening.

lil ii 'iii'nare haring a i-iii'iilaiY opening mi iii one walllliui'eol', a isiipporL o'ulaide of eiiid lliinaie and nioralile lowai'd:iiid l`i'oiii said opening7 a rior-.ure carried lily `said suppoii, andhaving a part paied lioiii yaid opening; lo irai@ an annulai- .Hpai'euiin-aus on :aaiil siipporl 'for holding nialeiial in coil :forni :indpower iiieaiif` also carried hy said siippoil for advani-ingy l'lioiiialverial through said annular space.

A furnace fiziiiiig a rirenlai' 'eiiiiaiiro 3@ o iieniiiign a ii'iii'aadjaeeiillo said opening and nioi'alili -oiiardaiiil `l'i'oinlliisaine-,a riiouliir pai-l` i-:iii'ied hy said li'ui'li l'or iusertionwithin lwild opening' lo leave an aiiiiiilai' Spare encireliiig saidparl, a siipporl within 3,5 aaiil fui-nare and carried by said part forsustaining iiialei'ial in coil forni, irieaiis for supporting theniat-erial in coil orni upon said riicli outside, of said liiiriiaoe.and iiieans for delivering material to said lil-.st .nien- 40 tionuilsupport from Saidsreond mentioned to leave an annular nini-ance foringress o the material lo he heated, ii support projiolnin f from said.partii'illii-iithe furnace in the direction `ol the -axiiifto saidmit-rancia, and means for deliverni'ir `ma-erial through Said annularentrance in eoil forni to :said

siipport,said fiiriiaee having ini millet openf ing in the wall thereofopposite fii'siiid sii port and from Mliieh llii iiia-liei'ial may iedrawn yelfilwiseoil' the free and of said .QGaA .fii'rnaee liaviiiixii-support project,-

' ing iiiiirarflly from one wall thereof` for sustaining liiiit'erialiii coil forni willi the axis of the roil siiliril-aniallirlioi'ivioiiliih and moans for delivering,material to sai-d' Si1pport inroll l'orni. said fin-nare `having an outlot-opeiiing iii'the wallthereof opposite lo said siii'uioi'lfand from which the iiialteriiil maybe drawn ondiifise oli' flic li-ne end ot 55 the support.

21. A, l'urnaiai haring' a i-iiieiilarA opening, :i iioiiAiolamhlpiparli `posed williiii said openingl and haring a vinili-al urlare spacedlroni said opi-iii|i; V io leave iii-annular eiitrauer I'or iugm-.as ol'llir liiiilii'ial lo lie lie: ed, a mppoi'i pi'ojei-(iiiiil I'i'oiii,saidvpai-L williiu llie lfuiuai-i in llie iliiii'liiii ol llie axiis4lo said ililiiinii. :i Vlined lli'ilii IHUY :ilile around Said* paFll'oi' dilii'iii'iiii;l niiilerial through .Qaid auiuiliu' i'iili'iiureiii ruil l'oi'iu lo said suppiii'l, land a iirenaui'rdeiiire l'oi'pi'i-\'eiiliii;,` rotation ol', llii: roil liiillei'ial on said support.

:22. Ifiii'uariharingr a rii'rulai' opening, a conical rlosui'ellieieloi', a Aapport prov ieeliug inwardly aud doii'iiii'ai'dly l'ionillie iiiiiei' .aurl'aee al llie upper edge (lnleol` lln` inner end ol'iaid support lieiiipr liu'iiid np.- wardly, and meaux I'or deliveringnialerial around :said i|o iire lo said lSupport iii i'oil `l'oi-ni withlilie axis pl' llie voil I#ulislaiitialliv lioi'izoiilal, and below saidsupport. said 'l'iirnaie having an outlet. opening iii llie wall thereofopposite l-o raiid support and from wliii'li ihr inalii'ial may bedl'awn endwib'e oll' the lree und ol. the support. ".Zi. A l'uruai'i`having ii circular opening` iii one wall lliereof, a uoiiieal rlosui'eol' dei'i'riisiiig pill-li l'oi' Said opening and spaced l'i'oiii aidopeniiipr lo leave ali annular pas-- sagre, a nnppoi'l l'or coilinaieiial al llie upper edge ol llie iniiei `Hiirlai'e ol' said, closureand projei'linginwardly iii liiie wil-li the coni-- cal surface ol' theclosure, and a rotatable 'iiiiiiibei' iniliidiiigr a feed devicecoveringr a poi-lion ol lilie oiiler end ol `Said annular passage l'oildelivering eoi] iiiatei'ial to said paasage and a llaiige eoi'oi'iiigythe balance of the outer end ol' said passage. Y

Q4. A furnace ol the claas described, formed with a rireular entrain-eopening` in a wall' tliei'iiol' and -willi an exil opening in theopposite wal-l. an a anularl niaiidirel. a. eoil supportA extending'l'oi'iiiirrllviv l'i'oiii `said mandrel, and iiieans external lo thel'urnai'e forfsupporting saidiiiaiidi'el within said rircula-r openingso as lo l'orni aii annular pas- Sago'foi' axial ad alii-e ofsureessiveri-oils ol Vthe material tio -lie healed. iii ri'iiiihiiialionwith afroloieoaxial willi' said ,inaiiilreL -foi'iiied with a Circularentra-nce opening in' a wall-*thereof `and with ii-n exit opening in theopposite. wall, an`annular'mandifeL a i'efi'actoi" wall supported withinsaid man drel, a coil su port extending forwardly from Suid man rel Vandmeans for .isupport`- i loifnied or provided willi ai-i aniinlarsuilaeeAing said mandrel within said circular open ing so as to form an annularpassage for axial advance of successive coils ol the material to beheated, and a member yieldingly ressed toward said mandrel so as toylel( ingly clamp a portion oi each successive coil of the materialdeposited on said mandrol, in combination with a rotor l'ormed orprovided with anl annular surface adapted to form a rotary annularclosure closely adjacent said annular passage and also formed orprovided with an opening iu operative relation for endwise passage ofthe n'iaterial in coil forml into said annular space and :tor layingsuccessive coils thereof on said mandrel.

26. A furnace of the class described, formed with a circular entranceopening in a Wall thereof and with an exit opening in the opposite wall,an annular mandrel, a coil support extending forwardl i from saidmandrel, a stationary member or supporting said mandrel within saidcircular openin so as to form an annular passage for axial advance ofsuccessive coils of the ma terial'to be heated, and a clamping membercooperating with said mandrel to yieldingly clamp portion of eachsuccessive coil of the material deposited on said mandrel, incombination with a rotor journaled upon and coaxial with the stationarymandrel support, said rotor .being formed or prorvided lwith anrannularsurface adapted to form a rotary annular'closure closely adn jacent saidannular passage and also formed or provided with an oblique openingoperative relation lfor endwise passage of the material in coil forminto said annular space and for laying successive coils thereo on saidmandrel, and also formed or provided with a peripheral bearing surface;together with suitable roller supports engaging said peripheral bearingsurface on opposite sides of its-vertical 7axial plane, therebysupportingand centering "said rotor and through it the `mandrel supporton which it is journa1ed-.. i .A 215A 4furnace ofthe class described,formed.v v`1th a circular entrance opening in a wall thereof and withaiiexit opening in the opposite wall, an annular mandrelhaving.itsperiphery in the form of a conelike fm1-stom, a `coil supportminimising la water cooled pipe loop extending forwardly from saidmandrel with a downward in clination for the major portionof its lengthand anupward inclination toward the free end, thereof, meansexterlml tothe furnace for support`ing said mandrel, Within said circular 4opening.as to form an annular passage Vfor arialv advance of successive coilsof the material t0-be ln-iated, and a clamping Vmembercooperating withsaid mandrel to engage successive coils of the material as they areprogressively l deposited on said mandrel, in combination with a rotorformed or provided with an annular surface adapted to form a rotaryannular closure closely ad jacent said annular passage and also formedor provided with an oblique opening in op eral'ivc relation l'o'iondwise passage of the material in coil form into said annular space andfor laying successive coils thereof on said mandrel,

28. A furnace of the class described, formed with a circular entranceopening in a wall thereof and with an exit opening in the opposite wall,an annular mandrel havingits periphery .in the form of a cone-likefrustum, a refractory wall supported within said mandrel, a coil.support extending forwardly 'from said mandrel 'with a downwardinclination for the major portion of its length and an upwardinclination toward 'the frey.- end thereof, means external to thefurnace for supportingy said mandrel Within said circular opening so :isto form an annular passage for axial advance of succes sive coilsvof thematerial to be heated, a presser foot movably mounted in the wall ofsaid furnace and yieldingly pressed toward said mandrel to yieldinglyengage successive coils olf the material as they are progressivelydeposited on said mandrel, in combination with a rotor formed or provided with an annular surface adapted to form a rotary annular closureclosely adja cent said annular passa-gaand also formed or provided withan oblique opening in operative relation for endwisc passage of thematerial in coil form/into said annular s ace and for laying successivecoils thereo on 'said mandrel.

29. A furnace of the class described., formed with a circular entranceopening in a wall thereof and with an exit opening in the opposite wall,an annular mandrel having its periphery in the form of a cone-likefrustum, a refractory wall supperted within said mandrel, a coilsupportextending forwa1dlyfrom said mandrel with a downward inclination for themajor portion of its length and an upward inclination toward the freecnd thereof, a stationary shaft v rigidly secured at its rear end fornonrotatably supporting said. mandrel within said circular opening so.as to form anannular passage for axial advance of Successive coils 'ofthe material 'to be heated, a presser foot movably mounted in the wallof said furnace and yieldingly pressed toward said mandrel and adaptedto yieldingly engage successive coils of the material as they areliirogressively deposited on said mandrel', in combination with a rotorrotatably mounted on the non-rotatable mandrel shaft, and itselfperipherally supported by antidriction rollers, said rotor being formedor provided withian annular surface adapted to forni a rotary annularclosure closely ad-'" jacent saidv annular passage and also formedcounty of Niagara and State of New York, or provided with an obliqueopening in op- 4 this thirteenth. day of Jne, A. D. 1914.

eratve mlation for endwse passage 0f the v material in coil form intosaid annular sance WILLIAM B l LIEGE" l and for laying successive coilsthereo on W itnesses:

said mandrel. f HATTIE J. ROHRDANZ,

Si neil at .North Tonawanda in the FRANK HARmsoN.

